Padlock



March 6, 1928. 1,661,777

SCZEPCZENSK-l PADLOCK Filed May 26. 1927 INVENTOR.

Tefer 929179672811.

ATITORNEKS Patented Mar. 6, 1928.

UNITED STATES PATENT oFFms; v

PETER SCZEPGZENSKI, F NIAGARA FALLS, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO MARTIN GILL, 0E NIAGARA FALLS, NEW YORK. i

r-AnLocK.

Application filed May 26, 1927. Serial No. 194,339.

This invention relates to certain new and useful improvements in padlocks of the pivoted shackle type, and has more particular reference to an improvement in padlocks of this kind embodying a cylindrical casing having rotatable tumbler cylinders therein, one of which tumbler cylinders carries an axially extending peripheral catch lug movable into and out of engagement with the notched free end of the padlock shackle.

An important object of the invent-ion s to provide a padlock of the above character which is extremely simple and durable in construction as well as efficient in use.

Another object is to provide a padlock of the above kind with simple and effective means for preventing an unauthorized person or one unfamiliar with the construction and operation of the padlock from inserting a key or causing rotation of the tumblers for release of the shackle even after the key is inserted. 1

Other objects are to loosely mount the shackle at its pivoted end for limited lateral displacement so that the inoperative or 0perative positioning of the shackle may be effected with facility without requiring an enlarged entrance opening in the padlock casing for the passage of the free end of the shackle; and to mount the tumbler cylinders in a novel and simplified way so that the tumbler cylinder carrying the latch lug may be freely placed in the padlock casing with out danger of being crowded by the remaining tumbler cylinders or requiring special a mounting means.

Other objects will become apparent as the nature of the invention is better understood, and the same consists in the novel form, combination and arrangement of parts hereinafter more fully described, shown in the accompanying drawing and claimed.

In the drawing, 'wherein like reference characters indicate corresponding parts throughout the several views,

"Figure 1 is an outer end elevational view of a padlock constructed in accordance with the present invention;

Figure 2 is a side elevational view thereof;

Figure 3 is an inner end elevational view of the same;

' Figure 1 is a view of the padlock shown in Figures 1 to 3 inclusive, partly in side elevation and partly in central longitudinal section Figure 5 is a detail sectional view taken H substantially upon line 5-5 of Figure 1 with the shackle omitted,

Figure 6 is a sectional view taken upon line 66 of Figure 4;

Figure 7 is an enlargedperspective view of the sliding combined keyhole guard and tumbler cylinder locking plate forming part ofthe present invention; and i Figure 8 is an elevation of the form of key preferably employed.

- Referring more in detail to the drawing,

5 indicates the cylindrical casing containing the operatin mechanism of the padlock,

which casing is permanently closed at its outer end by means of an integral wall 6, and has a circular plate-or disk 7 fitted in its inner end and retained in place permanently by flanging said inner end of'the casing over the margin of the disk 7 as at 8.

Rotatably arranged in end to end coaxial are apair of lateral ears 14 between which is pivoted the enlarged and flattened endpor tion 15 of the shackle 16, upon a transverse pivot .pin 17 supported by and permanently fastened in said ears 14. As shown, the

opening 18 in the pivoted end of the shackle through whichthe pivot pin 17 extends is laterally elongated so that limited lateral shifting of the shackle toward and away from the padlock casing 5, bodily, is permitted. As seen clearly in Figures 2 and 4:, the shackle is generally of angular form and the, inwardly projecting free end portion thereof is formed at its inner side with a notch as" at 19 to receive the catch lug 12 of the tumbler cylinder ,9'.Wl1en said lug is positioned to extend across the opening13 and after the free end of the shackle is entered through the opening 13 into the casing 5 ing 5 upon being released from the catch lug 12, whereupon swinging movement of the shackle is permitted to effect passage of the free end of the shackle outwardly through the opening 13. Thus, the possibility of wedging a tool or instrument between the free end of the shackle and the wall of the opening 13 for prying the lock open is minimized and positioning of the shackle in either operative or inoperative position is made generally more easy than would be the case were the shackle not per mitted such bodily movement.

In order to avoid crowding of the latching tumbler cylinder 9 and to insure retention of the tumbler cylinders 10 and 11 in proper position against displacement away from the disk 7 at the inner end of the easing 5 such as would effect crowding and objectionable displacement of the tumbler cylinder 9, the said tumbler cylinders 10 and 11 are formed with tapering peripheries to fit the correspondingly tapered inner surface portion or bore portion 20 of the casing 5 at the inner end of the latter. This bore portion 20 tapers smaller in an outward direction as shown so that the result mentioned is obtained in an obvious manner. The tumbler cylinders 10 and 11 are provided with central key holes as at 21 and 22, the opening 22 in the inner tumbler cylinder 11 being of special form so as to prevent the insertion of a key having other than a predetermined shape. Provided in the inner end of the outer or latch carrying tum bler cylinder 9 centrally of the latter is a specially shaped socket 23 adapted to receive a shank 30 of particular formprovided for the key 31. As this socket 223 is of noncircular form, it is apparent that when the key is engaged therein and turned, the desired rotation of the tumbler cylinder 9 is effected for release of the latch lug 12 from or engagement thereof with the padlock shackle 16. If desired, the opening 21 in the intermediate tumbler cylinder 10 may be provided of circular form and suiiiciently large to permit the passage of the key, so that the intermediate tumbler cylinder 10 may remain stationary.

The inner tumbler cylinder 11 is provide in its inner face with a radial undercut groove 24 extending from the center of the tumbler cylinder 11 to the periphery of the latter, and slidably fitted in this groove 24 is a combined key hole guard and locking plate 25. The inner end portion of the easing 5 is formed with an internal recess 26 with which the groove 21- may be aligned when the inner tumbler cylinder 11 is rotatably adjusted to a redetermined position. It is thus apparent that when the plate 25 is slid inwardly to the central portion of the tumbler cylinder 11 it will overlie the key hole opening 22 to prevent the insertion of a key. In order to permit outward adjustment of the plate 25 for a sufficient distance to fully uncover the opening 22 and permit the insertion of the key it is necessary to align the groove 21 with the recess 26 so that the outer end of the plate 25 may enter said recess 26, thereby preventing rotation of the tumbler cylinder 11. Thus, after the key is fully inserted and engaged in the socket 2% of the tumbler cylinder 9, said key cannot be turned and rotation of the tumbler cylinders cannot be effected for release of the padlock shackle unless the slide 25 is moved inwardly slightly to disengage from the recess 26 and permit the necessary turning of the tumbler cylinder 11. It is of course to be understood that the key will have its shank 3O engaged in the opening 22 when it is engaged in the socket 23 and the .key is fully inserted, thereby necessitating rotation of tumbler cylinder 11 in order to permit rotation of the key and the tumbler cylinder 9. Obviously, one not familiar with the construction and operation of the lock will not realize that partial return of the plate 25 inwardly is necessary after insertion of the key before the padlock shackle may be released. In view of this fact surreptitious release of the padlock is rendered highly unlikely.

From the above description it will be seen that the padlock is extremely simple and durable in construction as well as ellicient in use, while safety features of an effective and simple nature are incorporated in the construction to enhance the security afforded by the padlock.

Minor changes may be made without departing from the spirit; and scope of the invention as claimed.

What I claim as new is:-

1. In a key hole guard for lock structures wherein the lock structure comprises :1 casing with tumbler cylinders therein, a key hole guard carried by a tumbler cylinder and movable into engagement with the easing to prevent turning of the tumbler cylinder by the key when shifted to permit passage of the bits of the key, said key hole guard being movable out of engagement with the casing after complete insertion of the key.

2. In a padlock, a casing having shackle locking mechanism therein including a plurality of key-operated rotatable tumbler cylinders, and means including a shiftable keyhole guard carried by one of the tumbler cylinders for holding the latter against rotation when said guard is shifted sufficiently to permit the insertion of the key, said guard being positionable to release said tumbler,

cylinder upon complete insertion of the key.

3.111 a padlock, a casing having shackle locking mechanism therein including a plurality of key-operated rotatable tumbler cylinders, means including a shift-able keyhole guard carried by one of the tumbler cylinders for holding the latter against rotation when said guard is shifted sufliciently to permit the insertion of the key, said guard being positionable to release said tumbler cylinder upon complete insertion of the key, and embodying a plate slidablc radially of said tumbler cylinder.

i. In a padlock, a casing having shackle locking mechanism therein including a plurality of key-operated rotatable tumbler cylinders, means including a shiftable keyhole guard carried by one of the tumbler cylinders for holding the latter against rotation when said guard is shifted sufiiciently to permit the insertion of the key, said guard being positionable to release said tumbler cylinder upon complete insertion of the key, and embodying a plate slidable radially of said tumbler cylinder, the cas ing having an internal recess into which the cylinders for holding the latter against rotation when said guard is shifted sufiiciently to permit the insertion of the key, said guard being positionable to release said tumbler cylinder upon complete insertion of the key, and embodying a plate slidable radially of said tumbler cylinder, said tumbler cylinder having a radial undercut groove in its outer face in whichsaid guard plate is fitted.

6. In a padlock, a casing having a pivoted shackle, and shackle locking mechanism in the casing including a latch carrying rotatable tumbler cylinder freely disposed in the outer end portion of the casing and tapered tumbler cylinders in the inner end portion of said casing, the bore of the inner end portion of the casing and the latter tumbler cylinders being correspondingly tapered smaller in an outward direction to prevent movement of the tapered tumbler cylinders toward the first named tumbler cylinder.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature.

PETER SCZEPCZENSKI. 

